Type-writing machine.



B. o. S'TICKNEY.

TYPI; WRITING MACHINE. APPLIoAT-ION FILED JUNE 17. 1902.

Fml

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

L.: N VENTOR i F ig. 2 is a fragmentary View showing a por- UNITED sierras r TNT ortica.

BURNHAM C. STICKNEY, OF ELZABETI-I, -NEW i JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TC UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHlNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application led June 1f?, 1902. Serial No. 112,030.

-but effective means for 'securing a wlde range of variationinthe touch of the finger keys, so that the machine may meet the requirements of, all classes of operators.

My inventioncon'sistsin. certain combinations of devicesfeatures of construct-ion, and arrangements'. of.v parts, all as will be hereinafter particularly -set forth, and pointed but in the 'concluding claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a front strike Writing machine made in accordance with my improvements, the parts being adjusted for a hard touch, end one type barV and its key being in printing position.

A'. tion of the Fig. 1 mechanism, the key being in printing position, and the parts being adjusted for an extremely light vkey resistance. In the views similar parts are designated by similar characters of reference.

The lmachine frame comprises a base 1.,

i corner posts 2, andtop plate 3. Over the latter runs the usual carriage (not shown) carrying a platen 4. A system of rearwardly striking type bars 5 is carried in a segment 6 at the front of the platen and be- .,low the top plate. The typev bars carry types 7, rest upon a pad 8, and are pivoted at their rear ends upon a curved fulcr'uni wire 9 mounted in the segment G, the hubs of the type bars working in radial slots 10 cnt in the segment.

The type-bar operating devices comprise links 11 extending rearwardly and connecting the type bars to upright arms 12 of a.

system of bell cranks' A, which are fulcrumcd upon a transverse horizontal rod 13 mounted at its ends in ears 14 formed upon opposite walls ofthe base 1. Short rearwardly extending arms 15 of said bell cranks A are connected by pendent yielding llinks B to a system of key levers 16 of ,the second order, said levers bearing keys 17 and eX- tending rearwardly beneath the type bars and bell-cranks, and being fulcrumed at f their rear ends upon a transverse .fulcium rod A18. Each of the links B comprises a pendent stem 19 and a rearwardly directed arm 20, curved concentrically with the pivot 21 of the link, and hooking under a stud 22 carried by the contiguous key lever. Springs 2.5.r may ber/connected to the bell cranks A, for returning them'and their associated type bars and key levers to normal position. A universal bar 24 may be operated by the arms 12 of the bell cranks; and by meansoi:` suitable connections, a :tragment whereof is shown at 25, may control the letter-feeding movements of the platen carriage. y

In operation, a key 17 vis depressed, and

by means of the lever 16 and stud 22 thereon the link 'B is pulled down, lvibrating the bell crank A, and through the link l1 pull-l ing the type bar up to print.l Upon relier of thekey from pressure, the parts are returned to normal position by the spring 23;

At Fig. 1,.the link or hook B hangs so that the stem 19 of the link is close 'to the stud 22 on the key lever, so that the link,

although thin and somewhat flexible,l is

sprung little or none by the pull of the key lever thereon, and hence the type bar isswung to the platen by a minimum stroke of the key. At Fig. 2, however, the linkA B` is shown as swung forward, so that the outer or rear end of the arm 20vk thereon catches under the key-lever stud 22, and the pull of the key lever causes the arm 20 to bend down and also springs the stem 19, so

that the key has an extra yielding action when struck a sharp blow; although when the key is given a light touch or-moved with moderate speed, its dip may be substantially the same at one'adju'stme'nt of the link B as .at another, the eXtra dip being caused by the extra pressure upon the key by the operator.

The adjustment of the links B may be. effected simultaneously by means of a series of idle links 26, extending horizontally forsol ward from the links B, and at their front ends Working in vertical slots 27 cut in a horizontal transverse bar 28, and pivoted on a wire 2).1nmuited on said bar. The latter is normally stationary, and the idle links 2G guide the links B in their up and down strokes. rlhe bar 28 is provided at its ends' with rigid upwardly1 directed arms 30, which arey -Xed upon a transverse rock shaftv 3l journaled at its ends in the ears 14.

A forwardly extending lever or handle32 i is provided `for rocking the shaft 31, to-

gether with arms and bar 28, thereby to adjust the idle links 26 and swing the links vB all together forwardly or backw'ardlyupon their pivots 21. At Fig. 2 the handle V32-is shown elevated to its highest position,

and the links B to their eXtreme forward position. Adjustments between the eX- t'reines shown at Figs. 1 and 2 may be effected, thereby varying the springiiie'ss of the keys and making the touch as stiff or yielding as may be required; and a curved rack 83 may be attached to the front corner post 2,.for holding the lever 32 where ad justed. At its forward end the lever may khave a linger piece 34. y

The response of the mechanism may be made very prompt by putting suliicient tension upon the springs 23 and the usual universal-bar spring (not shown),without however rendering the key touch harsh, inasvmuch as such adjustment does not affect the yielding action of the links B.

-By making the links B of suitable strength, and soproportioning the connections. from the keys to the type bars that the normal dip of the `keys is slight, the key touch may be rendered much stiler than, is

. thereafter deranging the action of the'delicate carriage-feeding mechanism in attempting tov adjust the key touch.

It will be observed that adjustable means, including the bar 28, are common to the defvices which connect the .levers 16 to the typesi'?, for enabling said connecting devices yto have an extra yyielding action or not at will of the'operator; that theV yielding link B is adjustable at its point of connection with one of the arm and lever elements 15 and 16, so as to vary at will the resistance offered by the key; thatone of the lever and Alink elements 16 and B,preferably the latter, hasa yielding arm, and that the link may be adjusted relatively toL the lever so as i to vary the poi'nt ofengagemengfpf the yieldging arm; that means are contilled by the single `finger piece 34 for adjusting the sysnecting devices, for enabling esmas claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is as follows:

,1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a system of types, a system of levers provided 'with keys, yyieldable devices connecting said levers to said' types, -and 'a single adjustable means common to said conthem to have yielding action or not at will.

2. ln a typewriting machine, the com-` bination of a system of types,a system of keys, an intermediate system of yieldin links, and a single device common to sai links and adjustable at will forvarymg the yielding action of said links.

3. In atypewriting machine, the coi'iibina-`r tion of a type, an operating arm therefor, aV` j lever proyidedwith a key, a link connecting said lever to said arm, one of said link and lever elements having' a yielding arm, and means for adjusting said link relatively t0 said lever so as to vary the point of engagementvof said yielding arm, lto regulate its 'yielding' action.

4; ln a .typewriting machine, the combination' of a type bar, a lever provided with a `key,'a pivoted link between said lever. and

said type bar, said'link comprisingastem and an arm projecting therefrom, a device engaged by said arm, and means for swinging saidliiik upon its pivot so as to vary 'at will the point of engagement of said arm.-

5. AIn a typewriting machine, the combination of a type, a type-operating arm, a yield ing link pivoted thereon and consist-ing'of asteni portion and an arm portion, a lever provided with a key and also having a projection engaged by the arm portion 'of said link, and means forswinging said link upon, its pivotso'as' toV vary the point of engage inentof said arm .portion with said projection. l v i 6. in a typewriting machine, theV combina- -tion of a. system of types, a system of ty eoperating'arm's, a system of leversA provi ed with keys, and a system ofv links) connecting saidlevers to said arms, each of said links having a yielding construction, and means for simultaneouslyzadjusting said links so as to vary at will the-yielding action ofsaid ilinks. y

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a system of types, a system of operatcamas ing said levers to said arms, one of said sysio f tems of levers and links being provided with yieldin arms, and means controlled by a single `nger piece for adjusting said ysystem of links 'relatively to said system of levers so as to vary the points of engagement of said yielding arms. l

`ES.l In a typewriting machine, the combination lof va series of type bars, a series of keys, an intervening series of links having yieldinv arms, and a single device common to `-55 said links for regulating the yielding action of said arms simultaneously. r

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of aseries of type bars, a series of levers provided with keys, a series of pivoted yielding links between said levers and said type bars, each of said links com )rising a stem and an arm projecting there rom, and a device connected to all of said links and movable at will to swing said linksupon V their pivots.

l0. In a typewrit'ing machine, the combination of a series of types, a series of typeoperating arms, a series of yielding links pivoted upon said arms and depending therefrom and each consisting of a stem portion and an arm portion, a series of levers provided with keys and having projections engaged by the arm portions of said links, and a bar extending transversely of said links and connected thereto, and Inovable to swing said links upon their pivots,

1l. In a typewriting machine, the com- `bination of a system otl rearwardl striking type'bars, a system 'of levers provided with keys, a system of sub-levers between said4 leversand said type bars, and a system oil pendent yielding links pivoted to said subllevers and connected to said key-levers by means of arms projecting from said links at their lower ends and curved concentrically with the link pivots and engaging studs on the key-levers; and a bur extending-transversely of said links and provided With a finger piece, and movable by said finger piece in a direction to swing said links upon their pivots.A 12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a system of types, a system of op erating arms therefor, a system of levers provided With keys, and a system of links conneetin said levers to said arms, each of said links having a yielding construction, and means fora justing said links so as to vary at willl their yielding action; said adjusting means including a bar arran ed transversely ofsaid links, anda series o? links mounted upon said bar and connected to said yielding linksA y 18. In va'typewriting machine, the combination of a system of types, erating arms therefor, a system of levers proa system of opvided with keys, a system ot links connecting said levers to said arms, one nl said systems of levers and links being provided with yielding arms, a hinged bar extending trans versely of said links, a linger-lever rigid with said bar, and links pivoted upon said bar and also pivoted to said-connecting links.

14:. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of'- keys, an intervening series of links each having a yielding' construction, and means, including a series of idle links connected to said intervening links, for regulating the yielding action of the latter.

l5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, series of keys, an intervening' series of links having yielding arms, idle links pivoted to said links and arranged transversely thereto, and a linger' piece connected to said idle links for causing themto swing Said intervening links and vary the points of action of said arms thereon.

1G. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars,a series of levers provided with keys, a series of pivoted yielding links between said levers and said type bars, each of said links comprising a stem and an arm projecting therefrom, a hinged device extending transversely of said links, a series of'idle links connecting said yielding links to said hinged device, sind means for turning said hinged device so"as to swing said yielding links upon their pivots. l

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of types, a series of typeoperating levers, a series of yielding links pivoted upon said levers and depending therefrom vand each consisting of a stemportion and an arm portion, a series of levers provided with keys and having projections v,

engaged by the arm portions of said links, a bar extending transversely of said links and connected thereto by idle links, means for adjusting said bar so as to swing said id'le links,

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of ka system otrearwardly striking type bars, a system of levers provided with keys, a `system of sub-levers between said le# vers and said type bars, and asystem of pendent yielding levers and connected to said key levers by means of arms projecting from said links at their lower ends )and curved concentrically With the link pivots and engaging studs on the key levers; a vhinged bar extending transversely of said pendent links, idle links and means for maintaining the adjustment of said bar. i

links pivoted to said sub` connecting said pendent, linksto said bar,

and a iingerlever upon said bar, and a rack for said tingerlever.- 19. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a series of types and a series oit keys, of a series of intervening yielding links, adevice to which said links. are connected, said device being normally.stationary during the type-actuating movements of said links, and means for moving said device so as to regulate the yielding action of said links.

20. In a' typewriting machine, the combination with a series oi: types and a series of keys, of aseries of intervening yielding ;links, and a single regulator for increasing or diminishing at will the yielding action of said links.

, 2l. In a typewriting machine. the combination with a series of types and a series of keys, of a series of intervening links each having a yielding arm; and means for calling into action at Will shorter or longer portions of said arm, so asv to render the key 'touch harder or softer.

22. In a typeivriting machine, the combination with a key, a type, and a yielding member, of means for adjusting the yielding member; said yielding member being between' the key and the type for transmitting movement from the former to `the latter, and said adjusting means being mounted upon the frame of the machine and serving as a guide for said yielding member.

23. The combination With a series of levers, a series of type-bars, and a series of intervening yieldino' links, of means for moving the series ot links laterally to vary the extent of yielding.

. and a series of type-bars of an intervening series of elbowlike devices forming floats or `links transmitting movement between the lkeys and the type-bars, each ot' said elbow- 4o `like devices so constructed that it is iexed by the operation of its key,so as to cushion the key strokes. i

25. The combination. With typebars and key-levers, of flexible arms as 2O connected to the type-bars, projections 22 upon the keylevers, and means for shifting said arms alon said projections to regulate the extent to W ich the-arms shallvlex -or yield at the key strokes.

26. Tliecombination with a type-o erating member and an endWise iininovab e key lever, ofy an intervening hook having a pivot I at one -end to connect it to the type-operat- 'ing member and a pivotal support upon' the framing between its ends, the point :of the hook having a pin-engaging surface concentric With the first pivot, and a pin upon the key-lever to engage said surface, the hook being shiftable to vary its point of engagement With the pin.

27. In a typewriting machine, the com bination of a system of types, a system of ke s,

a system of intervening members provi ed with yielding'- arms through Which movement may bev transmitted from the keys to '24. The combination with a series bf keysv yielding action of all of said arms siinultaneously.

the types, and means for regulating the.

28. The combination With a platen, of aV i,

series of type actions, each comprising a` key,

a lever, atype-bar, two links intervening bej tween said lever and type-bar, one of said a lever connectedA links being yielding, an between said links. y

. 29. The combination'vvith a series of type actions, each comprising a key, a` series of links, one of the links having a yielding construction, and a lever connected between the links, of adjusting means for tlie'yielding links.:

30. The combination withy a series of typebars, of a series of keys, yielding devicesl connecting the keys to the type-bars, and an' adjustable member having idle links extending to all of' the yielding devices, for adjusting the tension thereof. 5

31. The combination With type operating members and links connected thereto, of vkeys connected to the links to operate the type operating members, and means extending lforwardly from the links convenient to the keyboard and constructedto affect the the resistance of links in a manner to var the keys -to the touch at t e printing strokes of the typeI operating members.

32. In a typewriting machine, theI combination of a system Vof types, a system of ment may be transmitted from the keys to the types, and means 'or adjusting said members simultaneously so as to adjust the yielding action of said arms.

i'io

f 34. In a' typewriting machine, the c'ombination of a series of types, a series of keys,

intervening movement-transmitting members each havin armsvwhereof at least 'onej is yielding, anl a ,single device havinl a.A

connection with all of said arms for regu ating their relative yielding movement andl thereby adjusting the touch of all of the keys simultaneously.

35. The combination with type bars, oi.'L

levers, links intervening between the type bars and the levers and having yielding constructions, and a single devicev common 'to the links for adjusting the same simiiltaneously.

36.. The combination of type bars `and keys, intervening tension members, and 'la single device common to the'tension members for adjusting the same simultaneously.

37. In a typeivriting machine, the combi- -nation with type bars, of levers connected thereto, operating links connected to said levers, guide links connected to said operat# ing` links and themselves pivoted toistationary supports on the machine, and keys coniiected to the operating links.

In a typewriting machine, the combination with type bars, of levers connected thereto, operating links connected to said levers, guide links connected to said operating links and themselves pivoted to stationarysupports -on the machine, and key levers mounted upon the frameworkand having connections to said operating links.

levers, guide links connected to said operat= ing links and themselves pivotedv to stationary ysupports on the machine, key levers 'mounted upon the framework and having connections to lsaid operating links, and 'springs attached to the firstmentioned levers toceturn the key actions to normal positions.

. f IllfIn a front strike writing machine, the

combination with rearwardly striking pivoted type bars, of upstanding arms, as 12, connected thereto by links, a univeisalbar engaged by said upstandingr arms, and key levers connected by links to horizontal arms provided upon said upstanding arms.

42, In a front strikewriting machine, the l combination with rearwardly striking pivoted type bars, of upstandingarms, as 12, connected thereto'by links, springs connect- I ed to said upstanding arms, and key levers i connected by links to horizontal arms prol vided upon said upstandmg arms.

43,. In a typewriting machine. having a ifrainework, the combination with typeop erating levers, of operating links pivote@ thereto, idle links mounted upon the frameguiding thelatter, and actuating means connected td said operating-links independently of the xguide links., v 4l. In a. typeivriting machine, the combination with a platen and .type bars 4pi'voted type bars and connected by links to said levers, .links extending from the bell cranks by the bell cranks. i

nation of a series of type bars, a lseries of key-actuated operat-ing devices therefor, a series of freely-swinging, anchoredbearing links, one vfor each of said type baroperating devices, and means for simultaneously adjusting all ofsaid bearinglinks.

nation of a series of type bars,- a seriesof key-actuated operating devices therefor, la. series of bearing-links for said oerating devices, each of said links being anc ored at. one end and pivotally connectedat its oppov site end to one of said key-actuated' operating devices', and means for simultaneously adjusting the anchored ends of all of said links.

nation of a series of type bars, alseries of key levers,a series of iloiring devices actuated by said key levers an operatively coning links for said floating devices,-and means for simultaneously adjusting all of said links.

BURNHAM- C. STICKNEY. Tit-messes:

GEO. M. COPENHAVER, WM. H. 'DE LACY.

work and pivotcd to said operating link s forA to the type bars, and a universal bar engaged 45.. In a typewriting machine, thejicombi-j 46. In a typewriting machine, the combi- 47. In a typewriting machine, the coinbinected with said type bars, a series of bean,

to strike rearwardly against the same, of,4 key-bearing levers, bell cranks in rear of the 

